Every hive inspection holds more than meets the eye. While the basics—brood, eggs, stores, space, and health—are essential, the real lessons often come from what we overlook. When a hive suddenly fails after “looking fine” just weeks before, something was missed. Learning to look beyond the obvious and view each inspection as part of a bigger picture can reveal early warning signs and help prevent future problems—often hiding in plain sight.
If you’ve ever walked out to find a dead hive and thought, what happened?—you’re not alone. Hive forensics helps you read the clues your bees left behind, understand what went wrong, and protect your colonies moving forward.
By: Mary Reed - Past Texas Chief Apiary Inspector Entomologist - Secretary, Apiary Inspectors of America Texas Master Beekeeper Program Manager I grew up in a rural part of Florida with parents who allowed their children to roam the great...
This is not a very uplifting topic for sure, but one of the most important skills in beekeeping is to learn from our mistakes, of which we all make many! The average annual hive loss rate is up to 44%....
Also read: What does a good vs bad brood pattern look like? A poor brood pattern can be caused by many things. Below I’ve outlined the common causes, and how to fix them: A failing queen- As queens age, they...
By: Rob Snyder Bee Informed Partnership: Honey Bee Field Specialist Chalkbrood mummy that has started to sporulate. When the mummy turns black the fruiting bodies are ready to be transferred to pollen and honey by worker movement in the hive....
